(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

CME cattle futures rout continues; hogs end lower

Despite small U.S. herd, placement into feedlots have been above last year's levels

Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange dropped on Thursday to fresh multi-month lows on technical selling and weak beef prices at a time when feedlot supplies of market-ready cattle are rising, analysts said.

(Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Feeder market bounces on lower volumes

Feedlot operators believe yearling numbers will be down in March and April

Strength was noted in Manitoba and Saskatchewan while a softer tone was evident in Alberta. Once again, buyers shrugged off the weaker feeder cattle futures and the focus was on filling year-end orders. Alberta and Saskatchewan feedlots are carrying larger numbers but there appears to be sufficient bunk capacity available to sustain the price structure.